DOCSLIB.ORG

Strengthening and Streamlining Energy Advice and Redress

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Strengthening and Streamlining Energy Advice and Redress inclusive policy, social development Strengthening and streamlining energy advice and redress An independent review of the adequacy of energy advice and redress – full report Georgia Klein 07939 541 807 [email protected] Section Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Key policy developments 7 3. Consumer needs – current and future 16 4. Definition of adequate energy advice and redress provision 29 5. An assessment of the adequacy of current advice provision 37 6. An assessment of the adequacy of current redress provision 58 7. Proposals for improving provision 75 Appendices and a standalone executive summary are also available at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/knowing-who-can-help Page 2 of 88 Chapter 1 Introduction This chapter sets out the review objectives, the approach taken and the key limitations on the review. The review’s primary objective was to identify the changes needed to the existing regulatory and delivery framework in order to deliver optimal energy advice and redress to domestic consumers (particularly vulnerable consumers) and micro-business consumers in Great Britain. Because the commissioning organisation – the Citizens Advice Service – is itself an advice provider, a number of measures were put in place to ensure the review was robust, objective and independent. Of key importance was the development of an assessment framework, along with the collection of data to evidence performance against this. The review was limited by the non-disclosure of key information to the reviewer and weaknesses in publicly available information, in spite of these services being funded by taxpayers and consumers. Nonetheless, the review: provides a robust evaluation framework that can be applied to help drive future improvements in advice and redress provision in energy as well as other sectors provides a comprehensive, aggregate view of the performance of both energy advice and energy redress in Great Britain; and secures sufficient evidence to indicate the improvements needed to the regulatory and delivery framework to secure adequate energy advice and redress. Page 3 of 88 1.1 Objectives The Consumer Futures team at Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland wish to work with stakeholders to achieve optimal advice and redress provision for energy consumers in Great Britain. To support them in this goal, they commissioned GK Consulting to: describe all relevant organisations involved in energy advice and redress provision, including details such as: the type of advice/redress provided; use of cross-referrals; volumes of consumers using the services; how consumers’ experiences are captured and reported conduct an independent review of the adequacy of this energy advice and redress provision in the light of current and forecasted future consumer needs, with particular regard to: - potential overlaps, gaps and coordination in provision, capturing differences between England, Scotland and Wales - the needs of domestic, micro-enterprise and vulnerable consumers; and make recommendations regarding the changes needed to the regulatory and delivery framework to deliver improved support for energy consumers. The review exclusively considers provision that is funded by: taxpayers; or consumers as a result of a Government mandate. 1.2 Approach Consumer Futures has previously commissioned other reviews of energy advice and redress provision, the latest being in 2011.1 In order to deliver maximum value for money, this review focuses on key developments since these reviews were completed, taking a different evaluation approach with a greater emphasis on recommended changes. Since previous reviews were completed, Consumer Futures has become part of Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland (hereafter referred to together as ‘the Citizens Advice Service’) – a policy-influencing organisation and advice provider with commercial interests in the advice environment. Given this context, in order for this work to have credibility with external stakeholders and to obtain the necessary data, it was important to develop an approach that was robust, objective and independent. This entailed the following: 1 Centre for Consumers and Essential Services, University of Leicester (2011), Making the Connection: strengthening the advice, complaint handling and redress framework; Centre for Utility Consumer Law, University of Leicester (2007), Consumer vulnerability and the energy sector: vulnerable consumers and complex complaints. Page 4 of 88 A combination of literature research and asking key providers and stakeholders in the sector to identify the full array of advice and redress organisations in scope for this work. Developing a robust assessment framework from a review of best practice in advice and redress provision. This was used to evaluate current provision and test recommended changes. Relevant organisations were requested to complete a standardised information request; the data requested would serve to objectively determine the performance of individual organisations and also the sector against the assessment framework. Key stakeholders in the sector were interviewed to capture their views on the effectiveness of current sector provision, its fitness for the future and any changes they would recommend (see Appendix 5 for organisations interviewed). Participants’ detailed responses were not shared with the Citizens Advice Service – it only has access to published data. Contributors were asked to verify the accuracy of information about their organisation as it appears in the final report. Contributors also had the opportunity to comment on the conclusions and recommendations in the report. The views expressed are those of GK Consulting based on the evidence acquired, not of Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland. The research for this report was completed in early March 2015. 1.3 Definitions For the purposes of this project, advice includes first-tier and second-tier advice. First-tier advice often points the way towards further information or answers practical and frequently asked questions. Second-tier is detailed advice for individual consumers about their specific problems. Information and education, including via web channels, are out of scope. Relevant organisations were those that have a primary responsibility for energy. The Financial Services Ombudsman and the three Public Services Ombudsmen serving England, Scotland and Wales will all touch on energy issues. For example, the Financial Services Ombudsman tackles some financial aspects of energy transactions. The Public Service Ombudsmen may capture energy issues if a local authority manages the installation of energy measures. However, because they do not have a primary role in energy, we have not reviewed their work in detail but do acknowledge that they add to the array of organisations that consumers may feasibly need to engage with. Micro-business has a particular legal definition of pertinence to Citizens Advice.2 Consumer Futures also operated with a definition of vulnerable consumers as ‘people who cannot 2 The definition of micro-business is taken from section 12 of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/57726/cd-cf-non-dom-discon-vulcon-referral- pathway.pdf) and updates in the The Gas and Electricity Regulated Providers (Redress Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2014. A business with: (a) an annual consumption of (i) electricity of up to 100,000 kwh or (ii) gas of up to 293,000 kwh; or (b) (i) fewer than 10 employees (or their full time equivalent); and (ii) an annual turnover or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million. Page 5 of 88 choose or access essential products and services which are suitable for their needs or cannot do so without disproportionate effort/cost/time’. However, for this project, organisations self-defined these consumer groups as this revealed more about the regulatory and delivery framework’s responses to such groups. 1.4 Limitations In spite of the Citizens Advice Service using its powers under the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress (CEAR) Act 2007 to request the data for this project, a significant number of organisations were unable to respond as a result of commercial and political sensitivities or time pressures. Protection of commercially sensitive data was offered. It was also not possible to secure interviews with Ofgem or the Scottish or Welsh Governments. The proximity of the work to the general election is likely to have been a contributing factor. The reviewer was required to draw on publicly available information for non-responding providers. As the later sections reveal, the data available in the public domain is, on the whole, quite lean and led to challenges in aggregating or comparing organisations. However, these deficits in publicly available information are themselves an important finding. The requirement for advice or redress provision to be funded by Government or mandated also excludes advice from organisations that sell further goods and services, such as energy efficiency or micro-generation measures. This includes, but goes beyond, Green Deal provision. To achieve a full picture of the adequacy of provision, such types of advice need to be taken into consideration. In spite of these limitations, the review has succeeded in: developing a robust evaluation framework that can be applied to help drive future improvements in advice and redress provision in energy as well as other sectors providing a comprehensive, aggregate view of the performance
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Energy UK Annual Conference Affording the Future: the Economics of Energy
    Energy UK Annual Conference Affording the Future: the economics of energy 22 October 2014 One Great George Street, London www.pwc.co.uk/power-utilities Working towards a brighter future What does the future look like for energy in the UK? The industry is evolving and seeking to balance the challenges of carbon reduction, affordability and security of supply. Follow progress in implementing UK policy as we monitor developments in delivering against these objectives. © 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. In this document, “PwC” refers to the UK member fi rm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member fi rm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. 28842 - Energy advert.indd 1 02/10/2014 14:31 Welcome to the Energy UK Annual Conference Energy has hardly been out of the headlines since we Our thought provoking panels give you the chance were together last year. The national conversation to have your say. The scene will be set with detailed about how we strike the Goldilocks spot - where Britain analysis of the current situation and you will hear balances affordability, clean generation and keeping from emerging companies about their new take the gas and electricity flowing to homes and business on generation and delivery. There will be lively – is only just beginning. There remains a pressing need discussion about how the industry plans to tackle to invest and build, renew, replace and improve. critical questions, particularly how it treats its vast and diverse customer base, as well as how the UK can We are delighted to welcome you today to hear directly look forward to securing, building and delivering new from the key movers in energy policy and regulation generation that both meets our needs and cares for and to join in the conversation with senior industry our environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Ofgem Annual Report and Accounts 2019-2020
    2019-20 Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) Annual Report and Accounts (For the year ended 31 March 2020) Accounts presented to the House of Commons pursuant to section 6(4) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 Annual Report presented to the House of Commons by Command of her Majesty Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 21 July 2020 HC 480 © Crown copyright 2020 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at Ofgem, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4PU. ISBN 978-1-5286-1973-8 CCS0520627254 07/20 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Contents Performance Report Chair’s foreword 5 Chief Executive Officer's report 6 Chapter 1: Marking retail markets work for all 10 Chapter 2: Enabling future markets and system arrangements 12 Chapter 3: Network preparedness and performance 17 Chapter 4: Excellence in statutory and core functions 20 Chapter 5: Our GB stakeholders 24 Chapter 6: Consumer Impact Report (CIR) 25 Chapter 7: Sustainability Report 28 Accountability Report 35 Parliamentary Accountability and Audit Report 60 Resource Accounts 69 Trust Statement 89 Appendices Appendix I - Key Performance Indicators 103 Appendix II - Investigations and Enforcement Action 2019-20 105 Appendix III - Off-payroll appointees 111 Appendix IV - Trade union facility time 112 Appendix V - Statutory requirements under Section V of the Utilities Act (2000) 113 About us Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator.
    [Show full text]
  • Powering Britain: One Nation Labour's Plans to Reset the Energy Market
    Powering Britain: One Nation Labour’s plans to reset the energy market Contents Foreword 4 Executive Summary 5 1. A Broken Energy Market - The Case for Change 7 2. One Nation Labour’s Plan for Reform 16 3. Next Steps 29 Foreword One Nation Labour is determined to tackle the cost of living crisis. Millions of families right across our country are seeing their wages rising more slowly than prices. Millions of businesses are struggling to succeed, with their costs going up and the odds stacked against them. Energy that is affordable is essential for all of these families and businesses. The energy market, above all markets, must work for all. But Britain’s energy market is broken. When the gas and electricity businesses were privatised in the 1980s, the Conservative government promised a competitive market that would deliver a better deal for consumers, competitive prices and sustained investment. Over 25 years later, it is acutely clear that privatisation has failed to deliver on this promise. Gas and electricity prices are uncompetitive. Bills are rising year on year. The market has failed to unlock the investment the country needs. Public trust and consent has been lost. A One Nation Labour Government will reset this market to ensure we deliver on the original promise of privatisation. We will create a genuinely competitive market that works for Britain’s families and Britain’s businesses. And government will take greater responsibility for enabling the investment that will guarantee our energy for generations to come. Britain deserves better than a government that stands up for a privileged few and an economy that doesn’t work for millions of working people.
    [Show full text]
  • SSE’S Response
    Non-confidential version 1. Section 1 - A Summary of SSE’s Response 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 This document sets out SSE plc’s (SSE) formal response (the Response) to the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Statement of Issues dated 24 July 2014 (the Issues Statement). 1.1.2 In the Issues Statement, the CMA articulates four theories of harm (the Theories of Harm). The Response first sets out an overview of SSE’s role in the competitive GB energy market before addressing each Theory of Harm in turn. 1.2 Ensuring liquidity and transparency in wholesale electricity markets CMA Theory of Harm 1:“Opaque prices and low levels of liquidity in wholesale electricity markets create barriers to entry in retail and generation, perverse incentives for generators and/or other inefficiencies in market functioning” SSE’s assessment 1.2.1 SSE plays an active role in the competitive GB wholesale markets—it operates over 10,000 MW of capacity for generating electricity (including investing in the largest portfolio of capacity for generating electricity from renewable sources). Nevertheless, SSE recognises that, in the past, the GB market may have had lower levels of liquidity than was desirable for retailers and generators. 1.2.2 However, in recent years much work has gone into promoting liquidity in GB electricity markets with the result that liquidity for many products now matches the levels achieved in markets (such as in Germany) which are widely recognised as highly liquid. The main drivers of the increased liquidity have been industry and SSE- specific initiatives, reflecting the interests that all participants in a market have in establishing liquid trading to manage risks.
    [Show full text]
  • Consumer Futures Annual Report 2014-15
    Consumer Futures Annual Report 2014-15 October 2015 Contents Executive Summary 1. Background & Introduction 04 1.1. Brief history 04 1.2. Representing consumers across Great Britain 04 2. Delivery of Work Plan 2014-15 05 2.1. How this report is structured 05 2.2. Energy 05 2.3. Post 13 2.4. Cross-Sector 19 2.5. Scotland 24 2.6. Wales 26 2.7. The Extra Help Unit (EHU) 27 2.8. Water in Scotland 28 3. Governance 30 4. Finance and resource 31 4.1. Budget and Expenditure 31 4.2. Outturn in 2014/15 32 Appendix 1: Work Plan 2014-15 33 1 Executive summary From 1 April 2014 Consumer Futures was integrated into Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS)1. This transition completed the government’s rationalisation of the consumer landscape, identifying Citizens Advice and CAS as the pre-eminent bodies for consumer advice, education and advocacy across Great Britain. In the following year the Consumer Futures teams delivered on the wide-ranging 2014/15 work plan, securing major wins for consumers while integrating this work with the wider strengths of Citizens Advice. In its new home at Citizens Advice, the energy team carried out a wide array of work that won material gains for consumers. Among other activities, the team: - Helped secure ​Ofgem’s referral of the energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), - Shaped energy market rules by representing the voice of consumers on four energy market governing bodies2, - Ensured that the £24.6 billion settlement governing electricity distribution networks from 2015 to 2023 includes the most stringent ever performance reporting requirements, - Chaired a Fuel Poverty Advisory Group working group to ​secure a​ n unprecedented ​commitment to ensure no low income consumer lives in a dangerously cold home by 2020, and - Published unprecedentedly detailed company performance league tables.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Consumer Principles in the UK Energy, Water and Postal Industries
    Document title header 1 Document title header - 1 Document title header - Document title header 1 Document title header - 1 Document title header - Document title header 1 Document title header - 1 Document title header Role of Consumer Principles in the UK- Do 1 Energy, Water and Postal Industries - 1 Research conducted for the Consumer Futures Unit - Summary Report 1 itle header - 1 JuneDocument 2017 title header - Document title header 1 Document title header - Document title heClient logo 1 position - Client logo position 1 Client logo position - 1 Client logo position - Client logo position 1 Client logo position - 1 Client logo position - Client logo position 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 - 1 - Role of Consumer Principles - Research Summary June 2017 2 - 2 Contents - 2 Document title header - 2 Executive summary ........................................................................................... 5 Document title header 1. Background to the research ................................................................ -...... 2 16 1.1. The Consumer Futures Unit ................................................................................. 16 Document title header - 2 1.2. Market research to explore the take up of consumer-focused frameworks ......... 18 Document2. Research title header methodology ................................................................ ..............- 2 19 2.1. Scope of the research........................................................................................... 19 Do 2.2. Overview of the research
    [Show full text]
  • View Annual Report
    SSE plc Annual Report 2015 Providing the energy people need SSE plc Annual Report 2015 At SSE, our purpose is to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way. Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Strategic Report Directors’ Report Financial Statements 01 An overview of the year 72 Chairman’s introduction 115 Consolidated income statement 153 17. Acquisitions, disposals 02 Chairman’s statement 73 How the Board works 116 Consolidated statement of and held-for-sale assets 04 Our business explained 74 Board of Directors comprehensive income 156 18. Inventories 06 Strategy 82 Nomination Committee Report 117 Balance sheets 156 19. Trade and other receivables 08 Our value chain explained 84 Audit Committee Report 118 Statement of changes in equity 157 20. Cash and cash equivalents 10 Being responsible 88 Safety, Health and Environment 120 Cash flow statements 157 21. Trade and other payables 12 Risk management Advisory Committee (SHEAC) 121 Notes on the financial statements 157 22. Current tax liabilities Report 14 Questions and answers 121 1. General information and 158 23. Construction contracts 90 Remuneration Report basis of preparation 16 Financial overview 158 24. Loans and other borrowings 100 Annual Remuneration Report 121 2. Summary of significant new 24 Weather 161 25. Deferred taxation 2014/15 accounting policies and 26 Key indicators 162 26. Provisions 109 Other Statutory Information reporting changes 28 Wholesale 163 27. Share capital 111 Statement of Directors’ 126 3. Critical accounting judgements 163 28. Reserves 38 Networks responsibilities in respect and key sources of estimation 46 Retail of the annual report and the uncertainty 163 29.
    [Show full text]
  • Consumer Futures Response
    Consumer Futures Mr Diego Villalobos Ofgem 9 Millbank London SW1P 3GE 6 December 2013 Dear Mr Villalobos Response to consultation, “Rebuilding consumer confidence: improving the transparency of energy company profits” Thank you for providing us with an opportunity to respond to this consultation. Our submission is entirely non-confidential and may be published on your website. We provide more detailed responses to the specific questions posed in the annex to this document, but would first like to set these responses in some context. The Consolidated Segmental Statements (“CSS”) are used to inform the public debate around the level of profits of the firms. The yardstick for whether they are a success or not is therefore whether there is evidence that they are useful or reassuring to that public audience. In their current form, we would argue that they are not. The CSS are significantly aged by the time of their release; the absence of data on trading activity means that they only give a partial picture; and the absence of full independent audit and difficulties in reconciling them with statutory accounts mean that it is hard for a third party to have confidence in their validity. We think that these deficiencies can be tackled, however their existence is not new and Ofgem has previously rejected changes in these areas. When you last consulted on amending the segmental statements in 2012, making clear that you would only partially enact the BDO recommendations, we noted that: “For the avoidance of doubt, we do not consider the CSS to be of significant use to a consumer audience at this time – or that this would be altered by the recommendations you propose to take forward” We specifically challenged whether anyone actually found the CSS useful, and argued that their value to stakeholders should be explored.
    [Show full text]
  • Decision on Our Methodology for Assessing the Equity Market Return for the Purpose of Setting RIIO-ED1 Price Controls
    To network companies, generators, suppliers, consumers and their representatives and other interested parties. Direct Dial: 020 7901 7165 Email: [email protected] Date: 17 February 2014 Dear colleague Decision on our methodology for assessing the equity market return for the purpose of setting RIIO-ED1 price controls On 6 December 2013, we published our “Consultation on our methodology for assessing the equity market return for the purpose of setting RIIO price controls”.1 Our consultation raised the issue of whether we should change our methodology for assessing the equity market return in light of the approach taken by the Competition Commission (CC) in its provisional determination for Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) published on 12 November 2013.2 We held an open workshop on this issue on 7 January 2014, and the consultation closed on 10 January 2014. We have reviewed consultation responses (see Appendix 2) and carried out further analysis of our own (see Appendix 1). This letter sets out the decision that we have reached. Our decision We have decided to give greater weight to the influence of current market conditions in relation to the equity market return. We have therefore changed our central reference point for assessing the distribution network operators’ (DNOs) cost of equity for RIIO-ED1 to 6.0 per cent. This represents a 0.3 per cent reduction from the central reference point we used for the business plan assessment, published on 22 November 2013.3 In November, we proposed to fast-track the four DNOs owned by Western Power Distribution (WPD). The decision in this letter translates to a 0.3 per cent reduction in the cost of equity that WPD set out in its business plans.
    [Show full text]
  • Offtaker of Last Resort
    Supporting Independent Renewable Investment: Offtaker of Last Resort Government Response XX 2014 2 Department of Energy and Climate Change 3 Whitehall Place London SW1A 2AW Telephone: 0300 068 4000 Website: www.decc.gov.uk © Crown copyright 2014 URN 14D/183 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected]. For further information on this consultation, contact: CfD Design and Implementation Team Department of Energy and Climate Change 3 Whitehall Place London SW1A 2AW Email: [email protected] The consultation [and Impact Assessment] can be found on DECC’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/supporting-independent-renewable-investment- offtaker-of-last-resort Published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change 3 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Eligibility .......................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 3: Offtaker identity..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Whitehall & Industry Group
    The Whitehall & Industry Group WIG builds understanding and co-operation between government, business and the voluntary sector What kind of organisation is WIG? Independent, not-for-profit, non-lobbying 30 years’ experience of successfully managing cross-sector exchange Membership-based with over 200 major corporates, government departments/agencies and local authorities as members, finely balanced between public and private sectors Seen by its members as a safe, respected forum for cross- sector consultation, dialogue and leadership development Supported at top level in government and business www.wig.co.uk Who are our members in the Private Sector? 3M CGI IBM Royal Bank of Scotland Group Accenture CH2M Hill John Lewis Partnership Royal Mail Group Addleshaw Goddard Clifford Chance Johnson Matthey Sainsbury’s Alent Danone Kingfisher Santander Anglian Water Deloitte Kingsley Napley Serco Group Anglo American Dentons KPMG Shell International Arup DHL Lafarge Simmons & Simmons ASDA DLA Piper Linklaters Standard Life Atkins DTZ Liverpool Direct Statoil Atos EADS UK Lloyds Banking Group Steria Aviva Eversheds Mace Group SunGard Babcock International Group ExxonMobil Marks & Spencer Tata BAE SYSTEMS EY Microsoft Tesco plc Bakkavor Field Fisher Waterhouse Mizuho Bank Total Barclays Finmeccanica UK Nabarro LLP Towers Watson BDO Freshfields National Air Traffic Services Toyota BHP Billiton FTI Consulting National Grid UK Power Networks Boeing Fujitsu Services Nationwide Building Society Unipart Bombardier Gallagher Heath Nissan Motor Company United
    [Show full text]
  • Taking the Temperature: a Review of Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty
    Taking the Temperature: A review of energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes in Scotland Consumer Futures Unit Publication Series 2016: 2 Taking the Temperature: A review of energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes in Scotland b Taking the Temperature: A review of energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes in Scotland Contents Foreword 2 Executive summary 5 Main Report Contents 9 Introduction 12 Context 14 Literature review 18 Current and previous schemes 49 Geographic analysis 118 Conclusions 130 Appendix A - Improving monitoring & evaluation 136 Appendx B - Bibliography 138 Appendx C - Mapping 172 Contact: [email protected] Tel: 0131 550 1061 www.cas.org.uk www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland Citizens Advice Scotland Spectrum House 2 Powderhall Road Edinburgh, EH7 4GB The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux – Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Charity Number SC016637) 1 Taking the Temperature: A review of energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes in Scotland Foreword Background Retrofitting energy efficiency measures in Scotland’s existing housing stock has been central to the Scottish and UK Government’s efforts to reduce consumer energy bills, rates of fuel poverty and greenhouse gas emissions. In Scotland in 2015, energy efficiency was designated a national infrastructure priority. Furthermore the Scotland Act 2016 devolves powers to determine how supplier obligations in relation to energy efficiency and fuel poverty, such as the Energy Company Obligation and Warm Home Discount, are designed and implemented. The Scottish Government have announced that they will introduce Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) in the coming years. This scheme will make use of the new powers over energy efficiency funds.
    [Show full text]